Drafting mechanism



Sept. 21, 1954 v. A. BURNHAM ET AL DRAFTING MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 11 1951 W/////Am7// INVENTOR. 26x1" BY 6' Maw-,0

Afro/map Sept. 21, 1954' v. A. BURNHAM ET A DRAFTING MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 11, 1951 gV TOJR. BY C M WWW QTTOR/VEP Sept. 21, 1954 v. A. BURNHAM ET AL DRAFTING MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 11 1951 INVENT0&

%( ATT:%RNEV Patented Sept. 21, 1954 24*Claims. 1:

Thisinventionrelates to textile fiber drafting mechanisms for'spinning androving frames, and more particularly to a novel textile draftingmechanism capable of drafting textile-fibers of widelyvarying lengths and characteristics, as well as mixtures of such widely varying fibers;

Inrecent years itfhas become commonfo'r tex tile manufacturers to mix or blend textile fibers of various types and characteristics to producefabrics having at "least some of the advantages of the'various fibers used; Forexample; cotton and wool mixtures are-well known; as are mixtures of suohnatural fibers-with any of the various'syn thetic-fibers; such as rayon, nylon and the like. It has; however; been impossible in' 'many of such mixtures to take-full advantage of the properties of the various fibers; due to the-difficulty of simul taneouslydrafting-both long and short fibers, as in mixtures, sincethe-well' known apparatus for draftin longfizers; such as wool and many synthetics does-not provide sufiicient control for drafting short fibers such -as cotton; while the equally: well known apparatus for draftingshort fibers cannot successfully draft long fibers due to themechanical' limitations of "such apparatus, as well as the lap ups which" occur when'an attempt is madeto draft even relatively long fibers on such apparatus;-1 Thuauthefiber-leng-th in such mix tures has-been limited and controlled by the short fibers-aorthe: mixture, and the longer fibersto be blended ihaveigenerally .been cutdown to alength whichzcouldbe: draftediby the apparatus neces-- sary; for: controllingathe shorter-fibers;- Under;- such circumstance, not only could littlead-van tage-be taken; oil the. benefits arising from the length ofsuch longerfib'ers but, particularlyin the case of 'cottonandsynthetic fiber mixtures; it" has been necessary to add a step-of cutting the synthetic fibers into short'lengths which could be handled-"on cotton machinery, thus no advantage cou'l'd be taken of the mostdesirable length of theisyntlaetic fibers.

Attempts have been made to solve the above=- mentionedqdifliculties by producing a single zone drafting apparatus 1 of the apron type -having; be tween acpainof delivery rolls an'd a pair of holding rolls,za;fibercontrol. mechanism comprising anover-lying rollscooperating with an 'endlessapron' tocontrol thekfrbers; the endless: aprongenerall'y havingixarr apronrdriving roll, an apron bar withimits 1100p; aswellas a suitable tensioning roll' and with the overlying roll running in'a depressed curveuot th'e apron" and providing a control zone having; at 1 short 'yie'lding= grip on the sliver being drafted, such an" arrangement beingshown in" 2:. Shaw" U. S; Patent No. 2;5 88;420: In commercial ,use; however; such apparatus does not-have the flexibility ofthe presentapparatus-in handlingextreme variations in lengths and types or kinds of fibers; and mixtures thereof.

W'e-have found that, in order to provide proper control-for drafting-fibersof a wide'variety of lengths and other characteristics; particularlyin the case "ofmixtures containing both-short and longfibers; not only'is-it necessary to provide a light frictionalgrip for thefibers' of a sliver (either twisted or untwisted as with spinning and rovingfram'es respectively) between th apron and roll to control the short fiberswhile at the sametime'permitting the-longer fibers to pass through without beingfirmly nipped by thecontrol-mechanism, but'also it is an important ad-- vantage-positively:to drivethe overlying apron roll-"and to provide a much'wider range of ad justment of the drafting and control-conditions as'well as-a far'b'etter controlof the fibers than has heretofore been considered possible. For instance, inorder simultaneously to draft veryshort and very long fibers'perhaps the most diflicult situationit i is: necessary that the release point or the control zone beasclose to the nip of the delivery rolls asxpossible to control the short fibers anclnthat thezfibers beiheld in uniform light frictional contact controlling the short fibers while at the same time permittingithe long fibers to be slip-drafted through theicontrol zone by the delivery rolls;

We have 5 further found that tin drafting elements employing a control zone having an' overlying roll :runningwithin the depressed curve of an apron in order properly to drive the apron to 7 provide the necessary unirorm i light frictional control throughout the entire control zone as well as to provide a control zone having a constant release point; it is desirableto have-the peripheral speedxofa"thegoverlying roll slightly higher (a: g.

34% )7 than: ithataot the apron; The usual aprcn drives cannot provide the necessaryuniiorm con! tact i around i the iperipheryz of the-.t' -overlying r011 since, as the frictionall zv driven overlyingmoll. is n.

travelling: slower: than the apron due to: slippage and frequently atr-a non-uniform; speed, the apron tends to form a non-uniform bulge away from the roll. Sucha bulge in .the apron not only results in a non-uniform pressure throughout thereon.- trol zone, but also .resultsin the constant shifting of the release point of the control zone, both of which. causeuneven drafting. We have thus found it highly desirable positively to drivethe overlying apron" roll at a peripheral speed slightly higher than that of the apron to urge the apron around the overlying roll and apron bar without forming such a bulge. Furthermore, in order to improve the uniform light frictional control throughout the control zone, we have provided a novel apron drive havin relatively large apron contacting driving surfaces, as well as an apron driving nip between a pair of positively driven rolls. Such an arrangement provides, due to the large area of contact of the apron with its driving rolls, a means of driving the apron at a substantially uniform speed to give improved drafting of fibers, without the necessity of excessive apron nipping pressures.

In regard to the practical commercial requirements of drafting mechanisms capable of drafting mixtures of fibers of different lengths, although it has been suggested that a fiber control mechanism having a positively driven overlying apron roll' is desirable, the prior arrangements involving positively driven top rolls have not been satisfactory since the gears used to drive the apron rolls from the long apron supporting and driving roll tended to become dirty and were extremely difficult to keep clean, as the long driv' ing shaft had to be taken out in order properly to clean some of the elements. Replacement or cleaning of the under surfaces of a single apron was also difficult, since the driving shaft had to be taken out to do so, meanwhile stopping the entire frame. As a result of the above objections, such frames have never come into extensive use.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to produce a textile drafting mechanism of the single apron type having a positivelydriven overlying apron roll which is capable of successfully drafting fibers and mixtures of fibers having great variations in length and properly controlling both the short and long fibers during such drafting.

It is a further object of the invention to produce a novel apron drive which will provide a substantially uniform light frictional contact between an overlying apron roll and an apron.

It is a still further object of the present invention to produce a drafting element which may be quickly and easily adjusted to provide optimum settings for control of fibers of widely varying lengths and characteristics.

It is a still further object of the present invention to produce a drafting mechanism which may be easily and quickly disassembled without the use of tools to allow cleaning and replacement of the elements therein, and which then may be assembled without the necessity'of readjusting the mechanism, the various elements automatically fitting together to give the exact former adjustment.

The nature of this invention, as well as other objects and features thereof, will be readily understood from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional side elevation of the drafting mechanism of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional front elevation of a portion of the drafting mechanism of Fig. 1, taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of certain portions of the drafting mechanism of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic front elevation of the drafting mechanism of the invention;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of a portion of the drafting mechanism of the invention;

4 Fig. 6 is a plan view of the portion of the draft ing mechanism shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a cross-section taken on the line I! of Fig. 5; i

Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional side elevation of certain portions of the drafting mechanism of the invention;

Fig. 9 is anv isometric view of a portion of the drafting mechanism of the invention;

Fig. 10 shows a modified form of a portion of the drafting mechanism of the invention;

Fig. 11 is a cross-sectional View of the modification of Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 shows in cross-section a roll portion of the drafting mechanism of the invention, and

Fig. 13 shows in cross-section a modified form of a roll portion of the drafting mechanism of the invention.

Referring first to Fig. l, the textile fiber drafting mechanism of the invention includes a pair of delivery rolls 3 and 4 at its front end and a pair of holding rolls 5 and B at its back end, forming between said pairs a drafting zone. The lower delivery roll 4 and the lower holding roll 6 extend for substantially the entire length of the machine and are driven in the customary manner by gearing located at the end of the spinning or roving frame. The upper delivery rolls 3 and the upper holding rolls 5 are supported and weighted by any suitable means to act on a sliver to feed and draft it, the arrangement herein generally shown being that of Fig. 6 of V. A. Burnham et a1. U. S. Patent No. 2,525,647, and eminently satisfactory.

Such arrangement includes a weighting bar 1 on which said rolls 3 and 5 are mounted in bearings 8 and 9 respectively, said bearing 9 for the upper holding roll being mounted on said bar in adjustably fixed position so that, through set screw 10 therein, it may be adjusted along said bar to vary the spacing between said rolls. 3 and 5. The rolls 3 and 5 are weighted from the cantilever arm l5 through a fulcrum member H mounted in adjustably fixed position on weighting bar 1, set screw l3 being provided so that said fulcrum member may be adjusted along bar 1, such mechanism being the subject of E. C. Gwaltney et al., U. S. Patent No. 2,565,228, filed September 3, 1948. The cantilever arm I5 may be pressed down on fulcrum member I I to weight said rolls 3 and 5, said arm having a spring l1 operating on one end thereof yieldingly to press said arm downwardly against said member as more fully explained in said U. S. Patent No. 2,525,647.

The overall draft is produced by the difference in speed of the delivery rolls 3 and 4 as compared to that of the holding rolls 5 and 6, and we prefer that such draft be in the neighborhood of 15 to 20, although the preferred embodiment of the drafting mechanism of our invention will produce drafts which range from 5 to 50. In order to maintain a firm bite on the sliver at each of these pairs of rolls, preferably the lower rolls 4 and 6 are finely fluted and machined accurately, and the upper rolls are covered with an elastic material, such as synthetic rubber, of sufficient firmness to cooperate with the lower rolls to produce a dependable continuously uniform bite but still having sufiicient softness and elasticity to conform to variations in cross-sectional shape of the sliver being fed between them. More weight than that customarily used in drafting cotton should be applied to the top rolls 3 and 5 to prevent any appreciable slip between the sliver and the rolls. The

front roll 3,' weiehteda Thefiber control mechanism is located between the delivery rollls and' the holding rolls and in' general includes an endless sliver supporting apron I2, and, withinthe loop of said apron a positively driven apron'supportingroll I 4 and an apron bar assembl-y including an apron bar I San-d supporting meanstherefor mounted in adjustably fixed' posit'ion between the apron supporting roll I Mfamr the delivery rolls 3 and '4; the apron being nipped-to drive-it between roll Iband 'a driving roll "fl outside the loop of the apron; The apron- I 2 is further provided with*- anoverlying positively driven apron roll I 8-- depressing the apronforwardlywf apron supportingroll M' -and" rtating' with its adjacent surface moving in" the samedi'rection as apron I2 at a; speed-slightly higher than the apron -to cooperate with the apronjto control fib ers'passingthrough the drafting" zone between theholding rolls 5-and 6 'and' thei'delivery rolls B and. Also; the roll I8, if

driven faster-than the apron, aids in driving the apron; said overlying roll'normally being supported by meansof and between the apron bar assembly-and the apron supporting roll, as here inafter more fully explained;- to 'provi-detogether' with said apron a light frictional contact with the fibers of asliver being drafted, and under normal conditions of operation not forming a. nip either between overlying roll I8 and-apron sup porting roll'l4,or'between said overlying roll and apron 'barI6j although being but slightl spaced from' both'to, give as large a'fiber control zone as possible. Such clearance" permits :the sliver to enter anddeave the control zone without being I especiallm V shduld be heavily gripped at either' point; but rather it passes composition as shown in Fig. 12; such as natural orfsynthetic rubber of a durometer hardness, say from 50 to 100,,though of course it will be understood that the hardness of the boss may vary withinwide limits since the degree of grip required will vary with the'nature of the fibers of'thesliver and with the size of the sliver and the yarn. to be spun from it. Such a boss is em \ployed in, conjunction withthe usual endless apron of a somewhat resilient synthetic materialoffclosely controlled uniform and predetermined? thickness. In some instances a boss 2I ofsmoothsteel is suitable, as shown in Fig. 13.

Wehave also employed a pin roll boss as shown inEifgs. lflfand 11,. in which the overlying apron contactingroll I8 is provided with a plurality of pins ,SDZextendihg outwardly from the peripheral surface of'the roll I8. With such a pin roll, it is. desirable. to provide an enlarged end portion 621cm. each endof the pin section, such end portion preferably being slightly larger in diameter than. the outcrdiameter of the pin section and servinglto contact the apron to keep it from contacting; the pins and being damaged thereby. Such, a roll apparently provides a limited combing; action which is desirable for certain types of fibers and mixtures thereof. The apron I 2 is driven by apron supporting roll? I4 andapron driving roll, the latter of" whlc'lrextendsfor substantially the entire length of i the spinning; or' roving frame and is driven by-suitable'=*gearinglocated at the end thereof,

said drivingroll io beingalocatedr outside of' thew loop -of the aproml Zibeneatn :the apronisupp'orta ing' roll. The apronI2- is-- wrappedoaround the: back of: the apron supporting roll 'M in-contact therewith for'ar substantial angular distance, well in excess of as showmand"preferably for apdrive the apron by frictional =contact therewith; Weh-ave found that smooth metallic surfaces will serve for the-apron contacting portions 'of 'rolls I 4 and- 2 0- and are entirely suitable for"- nipping the apron to drive it; thoughfluted o1" knurled surfaces could of course-b'e usedr' An apron tensioning roll ZZisproVidedbeneath apron-driving roll 2Il' within the loop of apron I-2-between' said driving roll and apron bar- I 6 to properly tension" said apron while still permitting a large drivingcontact with apron rolls-Il-andifl as'abovedescribed, the apron moving directly from theten sioning roll to the aprondriving rol120: Wpre fer to employ a relatively low tensionto saidapron I2: The apron driving roll 20 additionally serves positively to drive the" overlying apron rol1-I8"* through apron supporting roll I4," said rolls being 7" provided with suitablegearing for driving them.

as hereinafter more fully explained." The roll I8, if driven faster than the' apron, thus aids in driving the apron by providingadditi'onal driv ing contact therewith; particularl since such roll? is driven at a speed slightly greater than that of the apron. The above arrangement provides. the desirable uniform light frictional contact for the fibers of a sliver passing between the positively driven' overlying roll I8. and the apron I2even when the overlying roll is deeply depressed into the apron, so as toprovide the maximum control for the fibers of a sliver passing therethrough". Further more, since the apron rolls I4 and 20' drive theapron from immediatelybehind the slivers first contact with the control mechanism andfth'e overlying roll I8 'is driven at a slightly higher speed than the apron, the apron is carried, through the control zone aroundbverlyingroll' I8 as well as being pulled by the tension roll22 away from the apron bar end of said control zone.

Such carrying action, we believe,,tencls to aid,

the passage of the apron around the overlying roll and provide a uniform and yielding pressure between the overlying roll and the apron.

In order to satisfy the practical, as well as the theoretical requirements of a drafting mechanism as hereinbefore set forth, we have provided) a drafting mechanism which, even though its control mechanism be gear driven, maybe easily, and quickly adjusted to the optimum settings for the particular fiber 'or fibers to be drafted. Moreover, after such settings have oncebeen made,

our novel fiber control mechanism may be disassembled for cleaningor replacement'of aprons without disturbing such settings, the various elements being so supported and arranged auto,- matically to assume their prior settings when reassembled. :Such disassembly and'assembly, fur

thermore, does not require the use of any tools whatsoever.

To accomplish such results, the'upper' rolls of the control mechanism areall relatively short individually driven rolls so that it is not necessary. to stop the entire frame-inorder'to clean orre .such a length being short enough to provide suitable gear drive for the said upper rolls, as well as to allow cleaning and replacement of elements without stopping the entire frame. A lesser number of bosses could of course be used, but at increased expense per spindle in the number of gears required and the attendant cleaning problems without achieving any real advantage. The upper delivery rolls 3 and upper holding rolls 5 are preferably of the usual two-boss type, as shown in U. S. Patent No. 2,525,647.

To support the relatively short four boss rolls I4 and I8 of the control mechanism, we provide roll stands 24 at the ends of such rolls, the roll stands in our preferred embodiment being attached to the spinning or roving frame at distances suflicient to accommodate four drafting elements. The roll stands 24 have tracks 25 on their upper surfaces, said tracks 25 serving adjustably to support from beneath each of the slides in which the various rolls and apron bars are supported, said slides including a lower delivery roll slide 26 for supporting the long lower delivery roll 4, a lower holding roll slide 28 for supporting the long lower holding roll 6, a slide 36 for supporting both the long apron driving roll 20 and the four boss apron rolls I4, and a slide 32 for supporting the short apron bars I6. The slides 28, 30, and 32 are all mounted in said tracks in adjustably fixed position by suitable bolts 33 extending through said slides and said tracks and being retained by nuts 35 bearing against the lower surface of said tracks so that the distances between the elements supported in said slides may be varied. Lower delivery roll slide 26 is fastened directly to stand 24 by a bolt 3! retained by a tapped hole in said stand. The slides 26 and 28 for the lower delivery and holding rolls respectively are of the customary type for rotatively supporting a roll extending through them and may be supplied with antifriction bearingsas is well known in the art. Slide which supports the control mechanism rolls, as best shown in Figs. 1, 2, 5, 6, '7, and 8, includes a bearing 36 extending entirely therethrough for supporting the long apron driving roll 20. On either side of said slide 30 are provided downwardly extending slots 38 adapted to support and retain the short apron supporting rolls I4 and yet permit them to move toward and away from the driving roll 20, said slots extend- 5 surface of the apron bar a suitable angle for suping from the upper portion of said slide into bearing 36. The web 39 of said slide between said slots serves to prevent endwise movement both of said rolls I4 and of the overlying rolls I8, suitable shoulders being provided on said web. By supporting both the driving roll 20 and the supporting roll I4 in a single slide at each end of an overlying roll I4, the essential parallelism of each of said overlying rolls with the driving roll 26 is maintained at all times to provide constant apron driving pressures at the bosses, as well as to insure proper tracking of the aprons.

The slide 32 provided for support of the apron bar I6, together called the apron bar assembly, as best shown in Figs. 8 and 9, has on either side thereof downwardly extending slots 40 to retain the apron bars I6 in a slanted position, said slots that of apron driving roll 20.

extending from the upper surface of said slide for a distance determined by the position of said apron bars, while the surfaces 4I at the outer edges of said slide 32 adjoining said slots are slanted downwardly to form together with the porting the ends of overlying apron roll I6, 2.! hereinafter more fully explained.

The four boss apron rolls I4 and I8 are geardriven by long apron driving roll 20, said apron driving roll 26 having at one end thereof between each pair of roll stands 24 a gear 44, said gear 44 serving positively to drive each four boss apron supporting roll I4 through a mating gear 41 on said roll l4 at a speed preferably the same as Each apron supporting roll I4 in turn positively drives its overlying apron roll I8 through a gear 42 on the opposite end of said supporting roll from said gear 4I and a mating gear 43 on overlying roll I8, and we prefer that the bosses I9 of the overlying r011 I8 be driven at a peripheral speed of from about 3 to 6% more than that of said roll I 4. In order to support apron supporting. rolls I4 in slides 36, each of said rolls is provided with a pair of bearings 45 on gudgeons on the ends thereof, the non-rotating elements of said bearings 45 being retained near the bottom of slots 38 of slides 36 by the yielding contact of roll I4 with apron I2 which apron in turn rests on apron driving roll 20.

To obtain the drafts as hereinbefore set forth,

the apron driving roll 26 is driven at a peripheral speed of from 1 to 3 times that of the lower hold- 7 Overlying apron roll I8 is supported and spaced at the desired distance from the roll I4 by bearings 46 on gudgeons on the opposite ends thereof, the non-rotating elements of each of said bearings 46 being supported directly on and bridging between the slanted upper surface of the apron bar assembly and the stationary surface of the non-rotating element of a bearing 45 on apron supporting roll I4; such converging surfaces serving to support overlying roll I8 through its bearings 46 not only in regard to the pitch diameter of gears 42 and 43, but also with reference to the apron bar I6 and the apron supporting roll I4 to maintain said overlying roll normally slightly spaced at a uniform distance from said apron supporting roll and apron bar so as not to nip the apron at either, and to provide the desired light frictional contact for a sliver passin through the control zone of our control mechanism. It is contemplated, however, that under some conditions it may be desirable to nip apron I2 between rolls I8 and I4 either with or without a positively driven overlying roll, the sliver in such case being nipped between overlying roll I8 and apron I2, to give a two zone drafting system, and under such circumstances the bearing 46 would not necessarily fix the normal spacing between rolls I4 and I8, although it would so operate between roll I8 and apron bar I6. The bearings 45 and 46 on apron supporting roll I4 and overlying apron roll I6, though preferably of the antifriction type, may be of any material having low frictional characteristics, such materials as, for example, nylon or sintered metal being suitable. With either type of bearing, the outer surface of the non-rotating bearing element is preferably 4|. porting. rolls Mvare all 'r-upportedby' the driving rolls 20. in a floating. relationship with said roll,

.48 and I4.

:.:c.ylindrical to ;.permit the shearing 1 to; roll ealong tits supporting surfaces duringeadjustment of the apparatus, as hereinaftermore: fullyexplained.

Springs "rare [arranged on slides -30 at each end .offirolls l 8wtorbear downwardly on the nonrotating element .of bearings 46 to :urge overlying $1 011 18 :firmly downwardly: against the opposing supportingtbearingrsuriaces on apron supporting .roll -14 and the :apron bar assembly. A

shoulder M9" is ,providednin, post .50 on slide I "for retainingsaid. spring in'a raisedinoperative .position out of:contact :withsaid bearings when so desired. .I'he.spring'm-also-serves to provide rectrelation zoftthe pitchcircles .of-igears and The overlying rolls l8 and the apronsupthe-spacingof-ian overlying roll it from a roll. t4

ovenlyingmoll 18, such .pressure-ofthe spring being supplemented why the weight of said rolls springs 48, vsince they. need not supply -.the entire pressure, may -.be relatively ..small-.and light.

Inlorder. to adjust the drafting: mechanism of .our...invention, w the slides -28, .30 .-and 32 may. be ..mov,edalong-.the track .15 on roll stands 24.

During such-adjustment, for. example, it is usual to.retainthelowerdelivery rollslideifi in fixed .iposition together with. its. upperrolls3. and vary .the spacing. from. the .delivery. rolls 3 and lvto the holding rolls 5 .and t6, such spacing generally being somewhat .,greater...than..the :longestlength of fiber to be. drafted. ..In:such case of course,

lthelholdingl rollsiiandpli will .be adjusted asa unit so that they will at all times form .-a

sliver nippingcontact. Since; the novel control mechanism .portion of .the drafting mechanism. is provided with twos'lideslinstead .of the/usualone, .i.. e. the .apron'. bareslideflzand. roll slide [30, its

.fiexibility and .easenof .adjustment is greatly increased, since not .only .may the distance of the overlying apron roll .18 from. the delivery; rolls 3 ,and .4 l dltheLlholding-l rolls 5...and.. 6 be varied at will but the. amount... of .oontro1...of said. mech- ,anism may. be. variedtsimply byvarying the distance..lbetween..slides. SO a'ndslides .332, since. the

overlying. apron roll I 8 ,brid es..-bet.ween .the. con- 1:10 i of: the apron bar-assembly until stopped. by con- -tact with the non-rotating' element of bearing on' apron supporting roll M. If less control is desired-the movement .of said slides 30 and.32 toward one another will raise roll 18 by rolling cbearingtfi up the slanted surface of said apron bar assembly Icy-contact with bearing 45 :and thus decrease the wrap of the apron 12' around said L11'O11. .If '1 it is :desired to draft extremely short fibers with our novel drafting mechanism, overlying roll' i8 may be depressed into the apron to any desired extent with holding roll 5 adjusted (byureleasing-set screw ieran'd moving roll bearthe apron nipping ;-pressure between. apron su-pporting roll ltanddriving roll 20, .aprons of proper predetermined and uniform thickness "being employed to:- main-tain aapproximatelycorverging. surfaces .of lithe apron'fbar. assembly. .and V the non-rotatingbearing elements. of apron supporting roll .I 4 .and. thus is effect. supported by eachiof saidfslides. .Hencefthe vertical level of the. overlying. roll is fixed. bythehorizontal spacingrtherebetween. .lForrinstancerif it is desired toincrease the amount oficontrol by..depressing overlying roll ..I8.;deeperintoapron. l2,1.the spacing between slide 30 and.."slide.l32. .is increased by loosening.bolts.-33, moving slides 31Land32 further apart ontrack 25, and-.re-tightening.bo1ts.33. In

suchcaseoverlying apron 1101l t8,.being supported through .its "bearings .46 bridging .;between the slanted surface of theapron'bar assembly and the apron .supportingsroll It. through the :bearing 45 thereof will. be,pressed downwardly by. spring 48 turtherintothe. depressed curve of the apron I 2 since the normally. non-.rotatinglelement of .bear- .ing 45 will.. havei rolledsdown the .slantedsuriace ing.9 forward) to a position overlying apron supporting. roll M to. nip apron 12 between said rolls '55 and I4. Under such circumstances, lowerholdingroll fi is notzused, rolls 5 and' l t operating as the holdingirolls, and the control zone between toverlyingrolllfi and apron lz begins close to the :nip of the holding rolls 5 and i4. Also, f-ulcrum member -H onbar 1 must be moved forward along bar 1 out of the way of upper holding roll bearing-"9.

Thus the adjustment of the amount and "kind of control is extremelyxsimple and the predetermined spacing between overlying roll 1'8 and apronsupportingrollI4 and between overlying roll i8-and the apron .bar assembly" to produce the desired light frictional grip on the sliver passing therethroug-h willsbe-at-all times maintained constant inspite of i the wrap of-the-apron l2 around said roll.

With the elements of our novel control mechanism arrangedas saboveadescribed, it will be seen that in order to disassemble each fourboss portion of our novel control mechanism it is only necessary to release opposite springs: 48*by raising themupward Where theymay be retained by shoulder 49,- pick up overlying apron roll I8 from the apron l2, detach the four aprons 12 from the .apron tensioning ro1lsr22, and thenwtogether slide apronbar-.32 and apron supporting roll I4 out of their respective slots 40 and38 in slides 32 and .30, the aprons. l2 being .si-multaneouslyremoved .sincethey encircleapron bar [6 and apron supporting roll l4. .Thetaprons 12 .may thenbe removed endwise from the supporting roll l4 and apron :bar 16 for..replacement.or cleaning, and thedisassembled rolls and their. gears may Joe readily ..cleaned. To assemble the control mechanism it .is merelyYnecessary to placethe four aprons [2 over the apronrbar l6-and apron supporting .roll ld, drop the apron bar l5 and supporting roll. I4 in-to their respective slots--40 and .38 on slides :32' and w re-engage the aprons l2 with the apron .tensioning rolls 32 and place the. overlyingapron roll iii in position on top of the apron i2. Springs 48 may then be released from shoulders 49 to provide the downward pressure forrolls i8 and :Hi. Since the adjustment of roll it is determined byslots-38 on slides 30 and by therap-ron IZand the roll Zilwand the slides were not moved during the disassembly and assembly as above described, the roll II will automaticallyreturn to its previously set position. Likewise; since. the setting of roll it is determined in one direction by the'apronsupporting roll 14 and inanother direction by theapron bar assembly, the roll is 'willalso automaticallyreturn to its previously set position, since the apron bar slide .-32 was .not moved during the disassembly and assembly and the slotsAO on said slide will retain the apron bar E6 in the same position relatively thereto.

Such an arrangement. likewise. makes easy the changing of the overlying apron roll 18 to conform with the drafting requirements of a particular type of sliver. Thus sets of rolls l8 having the various types of bosses as hereinbefore described may be kept on hand so that the most desirable type of boss for the particular type of fiber to be drafted may be used.

Thus it will be seen that we have provided a drafting mechanism having a degree of control and a flexibility not before achieved, such drafting mechanism being capable of drafting an extremely wide range of fibers and mixtures thereof and properly controlling all of such fibers during such drafting. It will be further seen that the drafting mechanism thus provided satisfies the practical requirements of easy adjustability and rapid disassembly for cleaning to an extent never before realized. Various modifications of the novel mechanism within the spirit of our invention and the scope of the appended claims will be apparent to those skilled in the drafting art.

We claim:

1 A drafting mechanism of the character described having a drafting zone comprising a pair of delivery rolls at the forward end and a pair of holding rolls at its opposite end, means supporting said rolls to act simultaneously on portions of a sliver spaced apart by a distance greater than theaverage fiber length of the sliver to feed and draft it, mechanism for revolving said rolls at the speeds necessary to produce the desired draft, and a rotary fiber control mechanism mounted between said pairs of rolls and through which said sliver is drawn by said delivery rolls, said control mechanism including an endless looped underlying sliver supporting apron, a positively driven apron supporting roll within the loop of and in contact with said apron for supporting and driving said apron, slide means supporting said apron supporting roll, an apron bar assembly including an apron bar and supporting slide means therefor, said apron bar being within the loop of said apron in contact with said apron, track means supporting said apron supporting roll slide and said apron bar slide in adjustably fixed position for adjustment of each of said slides to vary the horizontal spacing of said apron bar and said apron supporting roll from each other as well as independently to vary the horizontal spacing of either said roll or said apron bar from said delivery rolls, and an overlying apron roll outside the loop of and depressing said apron forwardly of said apron supporting roll, said overlying roll being supported for rotation with its vertical level adjustably fixed by the horizontal spacing between said apron bar slide means and said apron supporting roll slide means.

2. A drafting mechanism of the character de scribed having a drafting zone comprising a pair of delivery rolls at the forward end and a pair of holding rolls at its opposite end, means supporting said rolls to act simultaneously onportions of a sliver spaced apart by a distance greater than the average fiber length of the sliver to feed and draft it, mechanism for revolving said rolls at the speeds necessary to produce the desired draft, and a rotary fiber control mechanism mounted between said pairs of rolls and through which said sliver is drawn by said delivery rolls, said control mechanism including an endless looped underlying sliver supporting apron, a positively driven apron supporting roll within the loop of and in contact with said apron for supporting and driving said apron, slide means supporting said apron supporting roll, an apron bar assembly including an apron bar and supporting slide means therefor, said apron bar being within the loop of said apron in contact with said apron, track means supporting said apron supporting roll slide and said apron bar slide in adjustably fixed position for adjustment of each of said slides to vary the horizontal spacing of said apron bar and said apron supporting roll from each other as well as independently to vary the horizontal spacing of either said roll or said apron bar from said delivery rolls, and an overlying apron roll outside the loop of and depressing said apron forwardly of said apron supporting roll, said overlying roll being supported for rota tion by means of said apron bar assembly and said apron supporting roll with its vertical level adjustably fixed by the horizontal spacing therebetween.

3. A drafting mechanism of the character described having a drafting zone comprising a pair of delivery rolls at the forward end and a pair of holding rolls at its opposite end, means supporting said rolls to act simultaneously on portions of a sliver spaced apart by a distance greater than the average fiber length of the sliver to feed and draft it, mechanism for revolving said rolls at the speeds necessary to produce the desired draft, and a rotary fiber control mechanism mounted between said pairs of rolls and through which said sliver is drawn by said delivery rolls, said control mechanism including an endless looped underlying sliver supporting apron, a positively driven apron supporting roll having bearing means thereon, said roll being within the loop of and in contact with said apron for supporting and driving said apron, slide means supporting said apron supporting roll, an apron bar assembly including an apron bar and supporting slide means therefor, said apron bar being within the loop of said apron in contact with said apron, track means supporting said apron supporting roll slide and said apron bar slide in adjustably fixed position for adjustment of each of said slides to vary the horizontal spacing of said apron bar and said apron supporting roll from each other as well as independently to vary the horizontal spacing of either said roll or saidapron bar from said delivery rolls, and an overlying apron roll having bearing means thereon, said roll being outside the loop of and depressing said apron forwardly of said apron supporting roll, said overlying roll being supported through its bearing means by contact of said means with said apron bar assembly and said apron supporting roll bearing means with its vertical level adjustably fixed by the horizontal spacing between said slides. 7 I

4. A drafting mechanism as claimed in claim 3, further having spring means contacting said overlying roll bearing means to urge said overlying roll downwardly to maintain contact of said bearing means with said apron bar assembly and the apron supporting roll bearing means.

5. A drafting mechanism of the character described having a drafting zone comprising a pair of delivery rolls at one end and a pair of holding rolls at its opposite end, means supporting said rolls to act simultaneously on portions of a sliver spaced apart by a distance greater than the average fiber length of the sliver to feed and draft it, mechanism for revolving said rolls at the speeds necessary to produce the desired draft, and a rotary fiber control mechanism mounted between said pairs of rolls and through which raeaaees .13 a said ssliver is c hdrawni-zby said ideliverywrolls, 4 said rcontrolvmechanism including an endless looped underlying ..sliver flsupporting capron, .can apron asupporting roll partially encircled within a rearaward loop-errand .in contact withi said apronfor driven apron-udriving roll :outside .and below the said rearward loop of said apron'in icontact with "eaid apron immediately in advanceof and'guiding sit to said loop and a forming .with saidapron supsporting roll -an apron' driving 'vnipif or i'driving .said apron,-zan.apron:barwithin the loopof said apron in contact'iwith said apron, and an overlying positively driven apron froll outside. the loop of anddepressing said apron forwardly of saidzapron "supporting r011. i B. A draiting mechanism :of' the characterrdeascribed having a drafting zone comprising awpair fielivery rolls-at oneendanda pair oi holding rolls ata its opposite end, means supporting said i rolls -to act simultaneously on portions or" .a i sliver spaced: apart by a' distance greater than the average fiber length oi-"the sliver to feed and draft it, mechanismfor revolving said rolls at the speeds "necessary to produce (the desired "draft; and :a rotary ifiber control mechanism mounted between '--'sald= pairs of rollsan'd' through which said sliver is drawn by said delivery rolls, said-control mech- "anism including an endless loopedmriderlying "sliver-supporting apron, an apron supporting roll partially encircled within: a rearward =loop orand -in -contaet with said :apron" for" an angular distance in excess ot--90", a positively driven :apron drivin roll outside and below theisaid rearward lop-=of*said apron incontact with'said apron immediately inadvance of and 1 guiding it to said loop and forming withsaid-apron supporting roll an apron driving nip for driving said apron-slide means rotatively supporting said driving-remand meanesupporting-said -apronsupporting roll for -movement=toward and away fromsaid apron "driving roll to form a yielding apron driving :nip therebetween, an apron bar'within 'a forward loop "of said apron in contact With said apron, and an overlying apron roll outsi-de the loop of end depressing said apron forwardly of said apron :supporting roll.

T-"A drafting mechanism of the character describedhaving a drafting zone comprising a pair ofdelivery rolls at :one end and ea ef-holding :rolls at its opposite end, m eans supportin -said rolls to tact simultaneously on portionsof -.asliver "spacedapart bya distance greaterthan the average fiber lengtmof the'sliWer t0= feed -and "draft it, mechanism "for revolving said rolls a't the speeds necessary to produce 1 the "desired draft, anda :rotaryifiber l control mechanism mounted between said pairs of rolls and through which said sliver is -drawn bysaid 'dlivery r'o'lls; saidcontrm mechanism including an *endless looped underlying -s'l-iversupporting apron,- an apronsupporting-roll partially encircled within a rearward loop of and in contact with said apron for=an-angularrlisan apron-driving nipfor driving said apron; an

overlying positively-driven apron roll outside the loopof and depressingsai'dapron forwardly or said apron supportingroll, means rotatively supporting said apron supporting roll forrmovement -toward-andawayfrom said aprondriving roll to K form a yielding "apron "driving nip therebetween,

1:14 mndsamapronubar withinsaid apron" in: contact -with-z'saidiapron.

.18 A =draftingcmechanism. of; the ,characteridescribediihavmgiadrafting zonejcomprisiniaipair 5 *of delivery: rolls at oneendaand'aspair of holding anangulamdistance inexcess ofw90., a positively rollsnatn its opposite: end,:meanssupporting-said "rolls toxxact simultaneously on'portions of Ira; sliver spaced apart by iardistances'greaterzthanthezaver- "ageifiherslength ofthe sliver to feed and .idraft at,

' l0 mechanism: for revolving i said' rollsiatt the speeds mecessary :to produce Ithe sidesired draft, W'andua rotary fiber control rmechanism-imounted between said. pairs Of-lOHSi-and' thIOugh which said: sliver is draavn by'said delivery rolls, said'icontrolimechai1ism includin wani endless 1 looped lvunderlying sliver supporting iapron; an apron bar Within the :loop of said apron in contactwith saidr'apron, a positively driven .apron. supporting roll partially encircled within :a rearward loopzoi and :in conm -,1; .awith i idiap on for :an angular 'distance in excessazof 90", a positivelydriven apron= driving roll outside and below the said- "rearward loop 6f :said-apron in contact 'With said apron immediately' in 1 advance of. and guiding it to sa-id loop andcooperatin with said apron: supporting-roll 'todrive said apron; gears for positively driving said apron supporting roll from-said apr0ndriv-- ing roll;- an overlying positively "driven apron ro'll supportedffor rotationoutside the :l00p. -0f= and =e0' depressing :said apron forwardly *of *said apron supporting roll, and gears'fon driving said overlying apron roll from said apronisupporting roll.

9. A: drafting mechanismof' the eharaciter described having a draftingzone comprising a-pair of delivery rolls at one end an'd a pair of holding rolls at its opposite end, meanssuppo'r'tingsaid "rolls to act simultaneously on portions ofa sliver *spacedapart'byadistanoe greaterthan the aver- :a-ge-fiber'leng'th of the-sliver to feed'anddraft-it,

mechanism for revolving said rolls at the speeds necessary to produce the desired "draft, and a rotary fiber control mechanism mountedbetween said pairs o'f-'rolls and through which said sliver is drawn bysaid'delivery rolls,- saidcontrol'mechanism including 1 an --endless looped "underlying sliver-supporting apron, an apron bar within the *loop of said apron in contact with *saidpapron,

a positively driven apron supporting roll-partially "enciroledwithin a rearward loop of and-in contactwith said-"apron for'an angulandistancein cooperating with said apron sup orting rollglto "drive said apron, "means rotativelysupporting said apron supporting T011" form'ovement toward and "away frornsaid apron" driving: roll, gears for positively driving saidapronsupporting roll from 59 said apron driving-rod} an overlying positively "driven apron-"roll supported" forrotation outside the. loop" or. anddepressing said apron forwardly of said apron-supporting roll, and "gears for drivjng said-overlyingapron rollfromisaid apronsnpporting roll.

'10. Aflrdftingmechanism"of the characteridescribed "having a drafting; zone comprising aypair otfdlivery. rolls at one end and a .pairof holding rollsat its opposite end, means supporting said rolls to actsimultaneously. on portions of vaisliver -spacedapart by a distance'greater than 'the'average fiber length of the sliver tofeed and draft it; mechanism for revolving said r'ollstat 'the speeds-necessary'to produce the desired'draft, and

-a---rotary fiber control mechanism mounted b'ein contact with said apron for an angular distance in excess of 90, a positively driven apron driving roll outside and below the said rearward loop of said apron in contact with said apron immediately in advance of and guiding it to said loop and forming with said apron supporting roll an apron driving nip for driving said apron, gears on said apron supporting roll and said apron driving roll for driving said supporting roll from said driving roll, means supporting said supporting roll bearing means for movement toward and away from said apron driving roll, an overlying positively driven apron roll having bearing means thereon, said roll being outside the loop of and depressing said apron forwardly of said apron supporting roll, said roll being supported at a uniform distance from said apron supporting roll by contact of the bearing elements of said overlying roll and said apron supporting roll, gears on said overlying roll and said apron supporting roll for driving said overlying apron roll from said apron driving roll, and means acting on said overlying roll urging said overlying roll and said apron supporting roll downwardly toward said apron driving roll to nip said apron between said apron supporting and driving rolls and to provide .a substantially uniform clearance between said gears.

11. A drafting mechanism of the character described having a drafting zone comprising a pair of delivery rolls at one end and a pair of holding rolls at its opposite end, means supporting said rolls to act simultaneously on portions of a sliver spaced apart by a distance greater than the average fiber length of the sliver to feed and draft it, mechanism for revolving said rolls at the speeds necessary to produce the desired draft, and a rotary fiber control mechanism mounted between said pairs of rolls and through which said sliver is drawn by said delivery rolls, said control mechanism including an endless looped underlying sliver supporting apron, an apron bar assembly including an apron bar and supporting means therefor within the loop of said apron in contact with said apron, a positively driven apron driving roll oustide and below a rearward loop of said apron in contact with said apron immediately in advance of and guiding it to said loop,

a positively driven apron supporting roll partially encircled within said rearward loop of and in contact with said apron for an angular distance in excess of 90 and, forming with said apron driving roll an apron driving nip for driving said apron,

said supporting roll being supported by said drivingroll, gears for driving said supporting roll from said driving roll, an overlying positively driven apron roll outside the loop of and depressing said apron forwardly of said apron supporting roll, said roll being supported for rotation by means of said apron bar assembly and said apron supporting roll with its vertical level adjustably fixed by the horiozntal spacing therebetween, and gears for driving said overlying apron roll from said apron driving roll.

12. A drafting mechanism of the character described having a drafting zone comprising a pair of delivery rolls at one end and a pair of holding 16 rolls at its opposite end, means supporting said rolls to act simultaneously on portions of a sliver spaced apart by a distance greater than the average fiber length of the sliver to feed and draft it, mechanism for revolving said rolls at the speeds necessary to produce the desired draft, and a rotary fiber control mechanism mounted between said pairs of rolls and through which said sliver is drawn by said delivery rolls, said control mechanism including an endless looped underlying sliver supporting apron, an apron bar assembly including an apron bar and supporting means therefor within the loop of said apron in contact with said apron, a positively driven apron driving roll outside and below a rearward loop of said apron in contact with said apron immediately in advance of and guiding it to said loop, a positively driven apron supporting roll having bearing means thereon said roll being partially encircled within the said rearward loop of and in contact with said apron for an angular distance in excess of 90 and, forming with said apron driving roll an apron driving nip for driving said apron, gears for driving said supporting roll from said driving roll, an overlying positively driven apron roll having bearing means thereon, said roll being outside the loop of and depressing said apron forwardly of said apron supporting roll, said roll being supported for rotation by means of contact of the bearing elements of said overlying roll with the bearing elements of said apron supporting roll, and with the apron bar assembly, with the vertical level of said overlying apron roll adjustably fixed by the horizontal spacing between said apron bar assembly and said apron supporting roll, and gears on said overlying roll and said apron supporting roll for driving said overlying apron roll from said apron driving roll.

13. A drafting mechanism as claimed in claim 12 including means acting on said overlying roll urging said overlying roll and said apron supporting roll downwardly toward said apron driving roll to nip said apron between said apron supporting roll and said apron driving roll.

14. A drafting mechanism as claimed in claim 13 in which said means acting on said overlying roll includes spring means in contact with the bearing elements on said overlying roll.

15. A drafting mechanism comprising a pair of delivery rolls at the forward end and a pair of holding rolls at its opposite end with a rotary fiber control mechanism therebetween, said control mechanism including an endless looped underlying sliver supporting apron and a positively driven apron supporting roll within the loop of and in contact with said apron for supporting and driving said apron, slide means supporting said apron supporting roll, an apron bar assembly includingan apron bar and supporting slide means therefor, said apron bar being within the loop of said apron in contact with said apron,

track means supporting said apron supporting roll slide and said apron bar slide in adjustably fixed position for adjustment of each of said slides to vary the horizontal spacing of said apron bar and said apron supporting roll from each other as well as independently to vary the horizontal spacing of either said roll or said apron bar from said delivery rolls, and an overlying apron roll outside the loop of and contacting said apron adjacent said apron supporting rolls.

16. A drafting mechanism comprising a pair of weighted delivery rolls at the forward end and a rotary fiber control mechanism mounted rearwardly thereof, saidcontrol mechanism including anv endless looped underlying sliver-supporting apron and an externally weighted readily removable apron-supporting roll within the loop of and. in contact with said apron for supporting and driving said apron, slide means supporting said apron-supporting roll for yieldable apronnipping vertical movement, a positively driven apron-driving roll partially encircled by and feeding said apron to said apron supporting roll and cooperating therewith to nip and drive said apron, an apron bar assembly including an apron bar and supporting means therefor, said apron bar being within the loop of said apron in contact with said apron near said delivery rolls, a base supporting said apron supporting roll slide in adjustably fixed position for adjustment to vary the horizontal spacing of said apron bar and said apron supporting roll from each other as well as to vary the horizontal spacing of said apronsupporting roll from said delivery rolls, and an overlying apron roll outside the loop of and contacting said apron to press sliver down upon said apron adjacent said apron supporting roll.

17. A drafting mechanism as claimed in claim 16 in which said overlying apron roll isyieldably weighted by weighting means carried by said slide means supporting said apron-supporting roll.

18. A drafting mechanism of the character described having a drafting zone greater in length than the average fiber length of the sliver with a pair of delivery rolls at the forward end of said zone, mechanism for revolving s'aid rolls at a speed necessary to produce the desired draft, a rotary fiber control mechanism mounted rearwardly of said delivery rolls and from which said sliver is drawn by said delivery rolls, said control mechanism including an endless looped underlying sliver-supporting apron, an apron bar within a forward portion of the loop of and in contact with said apron adjacent said delivery rolls, a yieldably mounted readily removable apron-supporting roll partially encircled within a rearward portion of the loop and in contact with said apron for an angular distance in excess of 90, a positively driven apron-driving roll outside and below the said rearward portion of the loop of the said apron in contact with said apron immediately in advance of and guiding it to said loop portion and cooperating with said apron-supporting roll to drive said apron, an apron-tensioning roll tensioning and contacting said apron between said apron bar and said apron driving roll, base-supported mounting means for said apron supporting and apron driving rolls, said means rotatively supporting said apron supporting roll for movement toward and away from said apron driving roll to yieldably nip the apron therebetween, and an overlying apron-contacting roll supported for rotation outside the loop of and in contact with the upper surface of said apron for pressing the sliver downwardly into engagement with said apron.

19. A drafting mechanism as claimed in claim 18 wherein said overlying apron-contacting roll is mounted, weighted, and arranged to nip the apron between it and said apron-supporting roll.

20. A drafting mechanism of the character described having a drafting zone greater in length than the average fiber length of the sliver with a pair of weighted delivery rolls at the forward end of said zone, mechanism for revolving said rolls at a speed necessary to produce the desired draft, a rotary fiber control mechanism mounted rearwardly of said delivery rolls and from which ing roll to provide of and contacting said apron to press sliver d I8 said sliver is drawn. by saiddelivery rolls, said control mechanism including an endless looped underlying sliver-supporting apron, an apron bar within a forward portion of the loop of and in contact with saidapron adjacent said delivery rolls, a yieldably mounted readily removable apron supporting rollpartially encircled within a rearward portion ofthe loop of and in contact with said apron for an angular distance in excessof 90.", a positively driven aprong driving roll outside and below the said rearward portion of the loop of the said: apron in contact with said apron immediately in advance of and guiding it to said: loop portion and cooperating with said apron supporting roll to drive said apron, an apron-tensioning roll tensioning and contacting said apron between said apron bar and said apron driving roll, a base-supported mounting means for said apron supporting and apron driving rolls, said meansrotatively supporting said apron supporting roll for movement toward and away from said apron driving roll to yieldably nip the apron. therebetween, releasable weighting means pressing downwardly said apron-supporting roll for normally maintaining the said nip of said apron, and an overlying apron-contacting means outside the loop of and in contact with the upper surface of said apron for pressing the sliver downwardly into engagement with said apron.

21. A drafting mechanism as claimed in claim 20 wherein there is provided a pair of Weighted rear feed rolls and said overlying apron contaeting means is mounted, weighted, and arranged to nip the apron between it and said apron supporttwo thus separated drafting zones. 3 22. A drafting mechanism comprising a pair of delivery rolls at the forward end and a pair of holding rolls at its opposite end with a rotary fiber control mechanism therebetween, said control mechanism including an endless looped underlying sliver supporting apron and an apron supporting roll Within the loop of and in contact with said apron for supporting said apron, slide means supporting said apron supporting roll, an apron bar assembly positioned between said apron supporting roll and said delivery rolls, said assembly including an apron bar and supporting means therefor, said apron bar being within the loop of said apron in contact with said apron, track means supporting said apron supporting roll slide in adjustably fixed position for adjustment of said slide to vary the horizontal spacing between said apron bar and said apron supporting roll as well as to vary the horizontal spacing of said apron supporting roll from elivery rolls, and an overlying apron roll outside tile p upon said apron adjacent said apron. suppo roll, said overlying roll being supported by s apron bar assembly and said apron supporting roll, said overlying roll being vertically adjustable solely by the horizontal spacing between said apron bar assembly and said apron supporting roll.

23. A drafting mechanism comprising a pair of delivery rolls at the forward end and a pair of holding rolls at its opposite end with a rotary fiber control mechanism therebetween, said control mechanism including an endless looped underlying silver supporting apron and an apron supporting roll within the loop of and in contact with said apron for supporting said apron, slide means supporting said apron supporting roll, apron bar assembly positioned between said apron supporting roll and said delivery rolls, said assembly including an apron bar and supporting means therefor with said assembly presenting a downwardly and rearwardly slanted surface converging downwardly with a surface of said apron supporting roll, said apron bar being within the loop of said apron in contact with said apron, track means supporting said apron supporting roll slide in adjustably fixed position for adjustment of said slide to vary the horizontal spacing between said apron bar and said apron supporting roll as well as to vary the horizontal spacing of said apron supporting roll from said delivery rolls, and an overlying apron roll outside the loop of and contacting said apron to press sliver down upon said apron adjacent said apron supporting roll, said overlying roll being supported by the converging slanted surfaces of said apron ,7 verging downwardly with the surface of said bar assembly and said apron supporting roll, said overlying roll being vertically adjustable solely by the horizontal spacing between said apron bar assembly and said supporting roll. i

24. A drafting mechanism comprising a. pair of delivery rolls at the forward end and a pair of holding rolls at itsopposite end with a rotary fiber control mechanism therebetween, said control mechanism including an endless looped underlying sliver supporting apron and an apron supporting roll having bearing means thereon, said roll being within the loop of and in contact with said apron for supporting said apron, slide means supporting said apron supporting roll, an apron bar assembly positioned between said apron supporting roll and said delivery rolls, said assembly including an apron bar and supporting means therefor with said assembly presenting a downwardly and rearwardly slanted surface conapron supporting roll bearing means, said apron bar being within the loop of said apron in contact with said apron, track means supporting said apron supporting roll slide in adjustably fixed position for adjustment of said slide to vary the horizontal spacing between said apron bar and said apron supporting roll as Well as to vary the horizontal spacing of said apron supporting roll from said delivery rolls, and an overlying apron roll having bearing means thereon, said roll being outside the loop of and contacting said apron to press sliver down upon said apron adjacent said apron supporting roll, said overlying roll being supported by contact of its bearing means with the converging slanted surfaces of said apron bar assembly and said apron supporting roll bearing means, said overlying roll being vertically adjustable solely by the horizontal spacing between said apron bar assembly and said supporting roll bearing means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,141,219 Martin et a1. Dec, 27, 1938 2,182,695 Honda Dec. 5, 1939 2,471,056 Bird May 24, 1949 2,471,057 Bird May 24, 1949 2,588,420 Shaw Mar. 11, 1952 2,607,083 Bird Aug. 19, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 261,043 Great Britain Apr. 14, 1927 

